Credit: Apple Music

Mark Knopfler explains why he doesn’t view himself as a singer

Mon 1 April 2024 14:23, UK

Dire Straits founder Mark Knopfler has reflected upon his star-studded career, and explained why he still wouldn’t consider himself to be a singer.

Playing the guitar was Knopfler’s first love, but despite selling millions of records worldwide and being a part of one of the most successful groups of their era, Knopfler remains incredibly humble when it comes to his place in the musical hierachy.

During a new appearance on the Rockontours podcast, hosted by musicians Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt, Knopfler explained how he never intended to become a singer. Instead, his decision to step behind the microphone was born out of necessity rather than a desire for superstardom.

In the conversation, Knopfler looked back on his time as a journalist, explaining how that helped him hone his storytelling abilities that shaped his songwriting. He noted, “Now I think I’m a songwriter and musician second, being a songwriter for me is incredibly different from being a musician.”

However, although Knopfler now feels at ease with labelling himself as a songwriter, he’s still not reached that destination of comfort with the tag of singer.

The Dire Straits member explained: “I still don’t regard myself as a singer at all. It took me a long time to think of myself as a guitar player, never mind that. And then as a songwriter, that took a while. And singer, I just never even counted.”

Discussing his move from guitarist to vocalist, Knopfler noted how he was “the only one” willing to step up and decided to remain as a singer “once I found that people didn’t walk out.”

While Knopfler admitted to not considering himself “much of a singer”, he revealed how Bob Dylan proved to be an unlikely muse and inspired him to break the mould as a frontman.

Knopfler told the two musical hosts: “I think Bob Dylan was inspiring in the sense that you realised you didn’t have to be a classical. You know, as music as I love and adore Frank Sinatra and all of that stuff, the singer singers. I realised that from folk music there was something else happening.”

He elaborated: “You could be rough as a singer and still tell your story. Your story could still come across. As long as you meant what you were doing.”

Meanwhile, Knopfler is set to release his new solo album One More River on April 12th, 2024. Furthermore, he’s also set to entertain music lovers alongside AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson on a new Sky Arts series, set to premiere later this month. Over the course of six episodes, the duo will meet musical icons including Tom Jones, Sam Fender, Nile Rogers and Carlos Santana.

Listen to Knopfler on Rockonteurs below.